A popular village music festival in the Diss area has been saved from the axe.

The future of the Hoxne Music Festival has been secured, following fears it may have to fold after nearly a decade.

Festivals, featuring top class musicians and bands and showcasing the best of local talent, have been staged in the north Suffolk village since 2008.

But the entire eight person committee of volunteers had given notice last month that they would like to retire and sought new people to take over.

However an annual meeting of the festival has heard that seven villagers have come forward to volunteer as committee members to take the organisation forward.

The newly formed committee will be meeting shortly to formulate plans and decide on acts for the 2018 Hoxne Music Festival.

Festival chairman Stuart Jarrold said: 'It was a really positive response. No one wanted the festival to fold but the old committee decided it was time new people with fresh ideas should shape future festivals.'

To mark the tenth anniversary of the founding of Hoxne Music Festival a special one off bank holiday music day has already been arranged for Saturday, May 27.

Ticket prices have yet to be determined but will be announced early in the new year on the website www.hoxnemusicfestival.com